Occupational Hazards [Open]

[William Tracy]

Despite a number of odd looks, Will had yet to notice there were flowers in his hair. He'd gotten stuck shifted the night before, and ended up sleeping outside. One of the nice things about living in Miami was that that wasn't a huge trial. It meant, though, that he'd woken up late to two giggly ten year olds braiding his hair. He pretty much accepted that as an inevitable part of life, too, and had just shaken his hair out when he shifted back (being too short to braid in human shape, it would come undone on it's own). He hadn't noticed the little creative touches his sisters had added, busy being preoccupied by the muscle aches that shifting always left him with.

Thus, flowers in his hair. Though there were worse places to go in that state than a crafts store. When you were buying large quantities of non-toxic finger paint, foam shapes, and glitter glue, it sort of made sense to have something stuck to you. It added to his clearly-hasn't-had-his-coffee-yet-chic style.

[Basil Marwick]

Someone had suggested to Basil that he should take up knitting. For stress relief and his anger issues, of course. It was apparently fairly relaxing. And it was, when he was a child. He used to sit there and watch his mother knit for hours. When he brought up said person's suggestion over the phone, she'd even sent him some of the yarn she always used. So he wasn't at the crafts shop for yarn. But he was there for needles. And maybe a book or three on the subject. With any luck he wouldn't catch any odd looks on the way through. The last thing he needed was to embarrass himself.

The worst thing about stores you've never been to is not being able to find the correct aisle. Especially when you can't exactly be arsed to ask for directions. ...Basil was not the kind of bloke that asked for directions. Especially when there were signs. He'd be fine, right? Eventually, when he got his bearings at least. The shorter man would have run right into Will's back if he hadn't gotten that odd... was it a scent or a sense? He couldn't tell really. That odd sense of 'wait, you're not the only horse in the row for once'. Because common as regular horses were, he'd only ran into what, one or two others?

"Excuse me, but. Uh. I'm just taking an educated guess or two, but I'm assuming you're not entirely aware that you've got flowers stuck... Well, in your hair."

Owning a coffee shop was a great teacher when it came to body language. Especially the 'not quite a morning person today' kinds of gestures.

[William Tracy]

Coltish might be a good word for Will, with his lankiness and the sheepish crooked grin he gave Basil when he turned around. And it would be more or less apt for his regular human self, but when he was a horse he generally had his act together.

"...I really didn't." He ruffled his hand through his hair to dislodge the flowers. Then he paused, going very still for a moment as his nostrils flared slightly and he registered what Basil had already noticed. Horse. His smile broadened slightly, because hey, he'd never met one before. Not that he'd been looking, really, and in the grand scheme it probably didn't matter much, but coincidences always amused Will. "Thanks."

[Basil Marwick]

Basil was used to being short. Basil was not used to being this short. In all honesty, he wasn't exactly fond of when people were more than half a foot taller than he was. Will probably had a good eight inches on him at least. But Baz was okay with it. Because hey, another horse. One that was probably just as surprised as he was that they'd run into one another, here of all places.

"No problem."

He grinned for a few seconds before tucking a hand into the pocket of his jacket, and absently he used his free hand to scratch behind his ear slightly.

"So, what breed?"

By human standards that would have been an odd question. But then, the infected were a bit beyond human standards. It was... still an odd question though. Probably wasn't exactly a regular thing to do, just asking someone's specific breed like that. Basil was curious though, and he equated it to being like asking where someone was from. He wouldn't have minded if the tables had been turned.

"If that's... not too awkward of a question. I've only run into one or two others, so pardon me if I'm overly curious."

Smooth recovery, Basil. Smooth recovery.

[William Tracy]

Will chuckled, it would take a lot more than that before he'd take offense. Somewhere past using him as a convenient way to move furniture. "No worries. I've never met another one before -- horses, that is. Horse-people, I mean. I know plenty of shifters." It was interesting, sometimes, having a good sense of smell, usually because the people who smelled like shifters weren't the ones you'd expect. They were just... people. Not werewolves. He looked around to see if anyone was witnessing this distinctly odd conversation, but in truth, no one who the craft store on Sunday morning really gave a damn what anyone else was doing there.

"Anyway -- I'm Friesian, according to my sisters. Who are responsible for the flowers. Will." Somewhat belatedly, he realized that was a bit of a non-sequiteur, and offered Basil a hand. "Ah, that is -- my name's Will Tracy."

[Basil Marwick]

"I know quite a few too. Shifters, not horses. I've met others, like I said, but they were just tourists. ...Honestly I thought there'd be a herd of us by now."

But he knew that wasn't how it really worked in life. Just wishful thinking. Having a few more friends wouldn't hurt anyway. Basil only had a few very close ones outside of his work. He didn't mind, because people tended to get on his nerves whenever he was away from the Haunt.

"Wishful thinking."

Honestly he didn't think heading into a craft store on sunday of all days would lead to a conversation at all. He was hoping to avoid that. This was the best case scenario. Luck was smiling on him that day, for sure.

"Basil Marwick. I'm a Fjord. ...Those funny looking ones with the mohawks, even though I don't sport one myself."

Extensive grooming just wasn't his forte in horse form. Baz briefly shook Will's hand and nodded a bit. Yep. Best case scenario was meeting and having a nice conversation, and here they were. Even though he still, for the life of him, couldn't figure out where the knitting aisle was.